UK Braces for Fifth Heatwave as Drought Grips England and Wales
The UK faces its fifth heatwave of a record-dry summer, with alerts nationwide and drought conditions affecting millions.
The United Kingdom is bracing for its fifth heatwave of an exceptionally hot and dry summer, with forecasters predicting temperatures could reach as high as 38°C (100.4°F) in central and southeast England. This comes close to the August record set in 2003.
Extreme heat alerts have been issued across every region in England. The prolonged dry spell has pushed more than two-thirds of England into official drought status, following the driest July since records began nearly two centuries ago. Nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales are now affected.
An estimated 45 million people are living in drought conditions, with over 27 million facing water use restrictions. The lack of rainfall has turned parks and green spaces in London yellow and dusty, as seen in recent footage of the capital's landmarks.
The extreme heat is putting significant pressure on health services, transport, and infrastructure. Fire chiefs have also warned of an exceptionally high risk of wildfires, a concern echoed across Western Europe, where France and Spain are also experiencing soaring temperatures and heightened fire danger.
This latest heatwave is part of a summer that looks set to be the hottest on record for the UK, raising serious questions about water resource management for households, agriculture, and the environment.